40 Vinyl Record Collection Essentials to Buy Immediately!

Lists, lists, lists. They’re out there. The best of this, the best of that—everyone has an opinion. And nowhere is this truer than with music. Best of the year, best of the decade, best of the century. Whether you like rock, country, rap, folk, industrial metal, or all of the above, there’s a rundown somewhere for you. To many music lovers, the vinyl era never ended.

In this day in age, vinyl is on a serious surge, and instead of only downloading their favorite artists’ albums, people are also buying records to spin in their new or old-school record players. New records can cost you a pretty penny, but here’s a list of classic vinyl that’s actually worth buying. These albums don’t only hold great music, but they also set the tone for the importance of cover art in the music world.

What Made a Vinyl Record “Essential”

When defining a classic album, more often than we are looking for three of the following conditions.

Coherence – oftentimes there is a theme. Something the artist is going through. Occasionally, this produces a concept album, but this isn’t necessarily the rule. Sometimes, the emotion of life is so strong that we have projects recorded in the space of a week.

Good albums can conjure this emotion in the listener for a few songs (even if they are on picture disc vinyl).

Great albums do it consistently.

Impact – although it might not receive immediate critical acclaim, the repercussions and influence of the project can be measured across time.

Replayability – there have to be enough quality songs to make subsequent visits worthwhile. From personal experience this requires a minimum of 6 great songs.

Of course, there are other significant factors that determine a classic album, track order, production and mastering. However, coherence, impact and replayability can make an album transcendent. These albums are examples of that, and must own records for your vinyl collection.

A crash landing of alien surf riffs, sci-fi trash nostalgia and punk attitude that sounded like nothing before it and doesn’t sound like anything since. It seems cringe, but this is actually an incredible record.

8) David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust (1972)

Eschewing the hard-to-find records (Low, Lodger, Heroes etc.) and the best-of Changes ones (which are both essential), this glam-rock opus sounds amazing. With headphones, please, to do the record justice.

9) James Brown – Live at the Apollo (1963)

The Godfather of Soul in all his raw glory, just a pure, visceral listening experience. James Brown live was something else.

10) Captain Beefheart – Trout Mask Replica (1969)

A mad classic, and riddled with a very incredibly weird history behind such a visceral artist. Cue Marc Maron screaming about “getting” Beefheart.

11) Johnny Cash – At Folsom Prison (1968)

Classic country is the staple of bargain bins and thrift stores around the country, and classic country records from Cash, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams, Tammy Wynette, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton and others help make for a great, affordable starter set. Another live album for the record books.

12) The Clash – The Clash (1977), London Calling (1979)

The Clash are more than just a patch on a jacket, an emblem of punk and some radio hits. Pick up these records and immerse yourself in the legendary punk band. There’s a lot of Clash influence in modern rock, some 40 years later.

24) The Pixies – Doolittle (1989)

Kind of like The Velvet Underground & Nico for the ’90s—every one of these tracks seems to map out a subgenre to follow. This is almost a complete guide to indie songwriting, still being used today.

25) Prince – 1999 (1982), Purple Rain (1984)

These are what I would consider no brainers, if there is such a thing. Even in death, Prince still gets spins on radio and streaming services now that it’s uploaded.

26) Queen – A Night at the Opera (1975)

Sure, it’s got “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which is awesome and all, but the rest of this record is classic. Skip the movie, grab this record instead.

27) R.E.M. – Murmur (1983)

“Talk About the Passion” and “Sitting Still” are two wonderful arguments for this record on this list, even though other REM albums may be more popular. This started it all. Oh, and did I mention “Radio Free Europe?”

28) Radiohead – The Bends (1995), Kid A (2000), OK Computer (1997)

The greatest band of our generation. No contest. Radiohead rewrote rock music for the new millenium.

29) The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main Street (1972)

I’m not even a real big Stones fan, this album, however, is wonderful.

30) Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)

Basically too beautiful for words. S&G are a duo that didn’t put out a bad record, and if you can grab a live one from Central Park or 1969, do that as well.

31) Paul Simon – Graceland (1986)

Find out where Vampire Weekend got all those neat ideas! That’s right, kids, global influenced pop music didn’t start with four kids from Harvard.

32) Frank Sinatra – In the Wee Small Hours (1955)

The king of standards, Sinatra’s ninth album tells the other side of the story of Sinatra as an artist on this moody, lovelorn masterpiece. Cry yourself to sleep with this spinning.

33) The Strokes – Is This It? (2001)

This really was it in 2001. They were the band we’d been waiting for, and Is This It? captures lightning in a bottle. Next albums were good, but this was a great moment for music.

34) Talking Heads – Remain in Light (1980)

A complete arc in only eight songs, from exuberant, afro-pop post-punk to a deeply dark conclusion.

35) The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead (1986), The Smiths (1984)

They’re worth every penny. British alternative was not better than these two albums. To be honest, alternative for decades wasn’t better than these two albums.

36) The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

The beginning of everything, the end of everything, R.I.P. Lou Reed. This album is played about once a week in my house.

37) Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)

Controversial as a person, this album is not controversial in its place at best rap album of the 2000s. Legendary producer, confusing individual, amazing record.

38) Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)

The Wu-Tang Clan now almost seems like it didn’t happen—how could they have fit all of that talent in one band without stepping on each other or sounding like a mess? 36 Chambers still sounds lean and mean, even with its massive (and massively influential) cast of characters.

39) Neil Young – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969)

You don’t have to tell me that Harvest and After the Gold Rush are worth mentioning, but this is one of Young’s classics we have in stock, housing proto-punk single “Cinammon Girl” plus two awesome jams, “Cowgirl in the Sand’ and “Down By the River.” You know what, just get all of his records already.

40) The Zombies – Odessey & Oracle (1968)

A wondrous pop record that always begs to be rediscovered. It’s one of those that you may not have grown up listening to with your parents, but you’ll want to show it to your kids.

Conclusion

When compiling a list for must own vinyl records, there are many you can turn to, but this list was meant to span time and genre.